Samuel Garbett facts for kids

Samuel Garbett (born 1717, died 5 December 1803) was a very important person in Birmingham, England. He lived during the Industrial Revolution, a time when many new factories and machines were invented. Garbett was also a good friend of Matthew Boulton, another famous industrialist.

A historian named Carl Chinn said that Garbett, like Boulton, helped Birmingham grow very quickly. It became one of the world's most important industrial cities. Even though he only learned writing and basic math, Samuel was very smart. He had a sharp mind and understood many things.

Samuel Garbett worked for a merchant in London named Hollis. His job was to buy goods in Birmingham for Hollis. In this role, he became well-known and respected by the people of Birmingham. The more people knew him, the more they admired him. In August 1735, he married Anne Clay from Aston. She passed away in 1772.

Samuel Garbett: A Key Figure in Birmingham's Growth

Building His Business Empire

Samuel Garbett first made his own money as a merchant. A merchant is someone who buys and sells goods to make a profit. After this, he teamed up with Dr. John Roebuck to start a special lab. This lab was on Steelhouse Lane in Birmingham. Here, they cleaned and tested precious metals like gold and silver. This process is called assaying.

In 1749, they opened a factory in Prestonpans that made sulphuric acid. This acid was very important for many industries. Then, in 1759, Garbett, Roebuck, and William Cadell started the famous Carron Iron Works in Scotland. Garbett and Roebuck each owned a quarter of this big company.

Family and Business Connections

Samuel Garbett's oldest child was his only daughter, Mary. In 1759, Mary married Charles Gascoigne. Charles had been managing Garbett's turpentine factory, Garbett & Co., since 1763. In 1765, Charles Gascoigne also became a partner in the Carron Iron Works. This showed how Garbett's family and business were closely linked.

Helping His Community

Garbett was very active in making Birmingham a better place. In 1773, he helped create the Birmingham Assay Office. This office made sure that precious metals were of good quality. He was also the first leader of Birmingham's Commercial Committee. This group was the start of the Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, which helps local businesses.

He was also part of a group that raised money to build the Birmingham General Hospital. This hospital provided important medical care for the community. From 1788, he led a committee in Birmingham that was against the slave trade. This shows he cared about important social issues.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1782, Samuel Garbett faced a tough time and was declared bankrupt. This means he could not pay all his debts. But his friend, Matthew Boulton, encouraged him to start his business again in Birmingham. Garbett did so and was successful once more.

When he passed away in 1803, his estate was worth a lot of money. He was buried at St Philip's Church in Birmingham. He had been a church warden there, which is a person who helps manage the church. Matthew Boulton wrote that Garbett's ideas were always fair, honest, and generous.

Throughout his life, Garbett was very involved in local politics and community matters. He helped with ideas for police and the development of Birmingham's canals. During the Birmingham riots of 1791, important meetings were held at his house on Newhall Street. These meetings were for local leaders to discuss the emergency. His efforts to influence national politics, especially his letters to Shelburne, made him an important figure across the country.